Jabali Afrika
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Jabali Afrika is a band formed in
Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a reference to the Nairobi Riv ...
by former members of the Kenyan National Theatre. The band was founded by brothers Justo and Joseck Asikoye, and Victor Elolo, Evan Jumba, and Robert Owino, Peter Mbole, Stephen Wafula, Bernard kapima joining the band later. The band is known for its fusion of
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
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reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
, and African percussion. Jabali Afrika got nominated with all one tribe collection for the 2022 Grammy awards for best children’s music category.


Influences and musical style

Inspiration for Jabali Afrika's original musical style came from Fundi Konde and George Mukabi, and the band incorporates customary instruments such as the Mbumbumbu bass drums, the sikuti drum and chivoti flute. Over the years, the band's sound has evolved to incorporate influences from the
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Peter Tosh Winston Hubert McIntosh (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band Bob Marley and the Wa ...
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Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...
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Lucky Dube Lucky Philip Dube (pronounced ''duu-beh'';
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Fela Kuti Fela Aníkúlápó Kútì (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) was a Nigerians, Nigerian musician and political activist. He is regarded as the principal innovator of Afrobeat, a Nigerian music genre t ...
. The band has also collaborated with several artists including
Samba Mapangala Samba Mapangala is a Congolese singer and bandleader who has spent most of his five-decade musical career in Kenya, where he notably created and led Virunga, which has been one of the most popular bands in East Africa for more than 35 years. He ...
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History

Jabali Afrika began in the early '90s, composed of dancers, singers, and drummers from the Kenyan National Theatre. The band chose its name from the Kiswahili word for "rock," jabali, and included Afrika as a reminder of its heritage. Initially performing traditional Kenyan songs, the group gained the attention of the Kenyan National Talent Search, leading to international tours organized by African Heritage. The band would soon arrive in the United States and based itself in the Pittsburgh region. In 1996, the band gained attention by appearing in an episode of
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood ''Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' (sometimes shortened to ''Mister Rogers'') is an American half-hour educational children's television series that ran from 1968 to 2001. It was created and hosted by Fred Rogers. Its original incarnation, the ser ...
, performing the song "Tree, Tree, Tree".


Discography

;Studio albums *'' Journey'' (1996) *'' Remember the Past'' (1999) *'' Rootsganza'' (2001) *'' Mayosi'' (2005) *'' Rebellion 1963 To The Future'' (2014) *'' Nakumbuka'' (2017) *'' Hesabu Moja Mbili'' (2017) *'' Khusaire'' (2020) *''Kings and Queens(2023)


References

{{Reflist Kenyan musical groups